I would rather die of passion than boredom. Octave Mouret in Au Bonheur des Dames by Émile Zola Happy New Year! As 2018 unfolds, I wish everyone health, joy and prosperity. The last year for me was a transformative one, filled with travel, new friendships, and assorted challenges. Two pivotal moments stood out – one…
While spring-cleaning my home library, I rediscovered an inspirational gem tucked in one of the books as a marker – a quote from A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson, spiritual teacher, author and lecturer. I never tire of the timeless, encouraging message that speaks to our individual uniqueness, capacity for love and immeasurable human…
As a long-time fan of comic art and graphic novels I am always awed by their power to entertain, heal and teach through visual storytelling. The concept of art as a therapeutic and educational tool finds poignant expression in the remarkable and courageous Diary Drawings: Mental Illness and Me, by Bobby Baker. Bobby Baker is in…
Could we all be mentally ill? This may be the diagnosis when the American Psychiatric Association (APA) officially publishes the DSM-5 in May 2013. What is the DSM? DSM stands for “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” and is essentially the “bible of psychiatry.” The manual contains a listing of psychiatric disorders, corresponding to…
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive Dalai Lama May is International Mental Health Month and I’m blogging for mental health. Not long ago I witnessed an incident that left me feeling both shocked and dismayed. I was on a crowded streetcar when loud singing broke out. I turned and…
Never underestimate the power of an acknowledgement or compliment. I learned this truth years ago, when what started out as just another weekly shopping trip to my local health food shop ended up being a life-long teaching moment. As I unloaded my sundry items at the checkout counter, I chatted with the young cashier, as…
It’s a brand spanking New Year and I for one look forward to carrying a few less burdens. The past year was challenging to say the least as I dealt with personal issues that included old and new injuries, elder care, and various family illnesses. Looking back on it all, I saw that my life…
Don’t think you’re on the right road just because it’s a well-beaten path. Author Unknown Not long ago, I had lunch with a friend who confirmed for me what I suspected; I had fallen headfirst off the path of authenticity. We were discussing my blog, or rather; I was complaining to her that although I…
Say YES to life. Participate. Move. Act….Take a stand. Susan Jeffers, psychologist, author I like skinny-dipping. This recent self-discovery is startling in view of the fact that I’m someone who has always been timid around water and the idea of me skinny-dipping was as remote as, well…, me diving off a dock. How did I…
Last summer I decided to do the unthinkable – stop coloring my hair. The song “I Am Not My Hair” by India.Arie was stuck in my head and I was at a point in my life that cried for change. The decision to go “au naturel” wasn’t an easy one. My love affair with hair…